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A. RBERT$.

'WATER- CQLUMNS.

Patented Mt. 1-3, 1876.

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Zinbmint ALFRED n. nonnnrs, or PHILADELPHI PENNSYLVANIA.

lhil?ROVEMEhlT IN WATER CQLUMNS. I

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 183,072, dated October 10, 1876; application filed July 1; 1876.

To all whom it may con-cam 4 Beit known that I, ALFRED R. ROBERTS, of the city and county of Philadelphia, and

' State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Water-Columns; and I do hereby declare the ihllowing to be a clear and exact description of the nature thereof, sufucient to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to fully understand, make, and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a side view of the water-column My invention relates to an apparatus for supplying locomotive-engines with water; and it consists in operating the valve by 1116(51121- ism outside of the pipe through which the water passes, whereby there will be no freezing in of said mechanism, and stufling-boxes are avoided. It also consists of'the combination of certain parts to form an improvement in water-columns;

Referring to the drawings, A. represents a hollow column, which is secured in an upright position to a platform framework, bedplate, or casing in proximity to railwaytracks. Nithin the column is placed a rotating pipe, B, to whose upper end is connected the horizontal branch pipe G, communicating therewith, and its lower end is titted in the upright portion of a base-pipe D, so as to be permitted to rotate and rise and fall therein, To the end of the base-pipe opposite to that to which the pipe B is attached there is connected the inlet-pipe E, and between the pipes I) E there is located a valve, F, which is adapted to open and close communication between the two pipes D E. Grepresents arod or stem, which is connected to the valve F, and also at its lower end to a v1; 9,11, whose seat J is on the lower side of the pipe D, below the seat of the valve F, which latter seat is intermediate of the pipes D E, so that the stem G is common to the two valves. The upper end of the valve-stem projects through the pipe E, and is attached to a lever, K, which extends outside of the pipe'toward the upright pipe B, and is adapted to have its free i other end to an operating hand wheel or lever,

S. It will be seen that the branch 0, rod R, pulley 1?, chain N, rod M, and sleeve L rotate with the wheel B. In lieu of the pulley P and chain N, the connection between the rod R and rod M may be by a rack and pinion,

crank, cam, or other suitable mechanism, whereby a rising motion may be'iinparted to .the sleeve L. On the face of the upper end of the column 'A there are secured cars a, to which are journaled rollers T, and to the pipe B, above said rollers, there is secured a collar, V, whose under face is a cam, which rides on the roller T, the cam consisting of alternate ascending and descending portions, as more clearly shown in Fig. 1. I

The operation is as follows: Then the engine requires water, the fireman or other proper person swings the branch 0 toward the watertank, in. which operation the descending pertions of the cam are brought on the rollers T, thus raising the branch and the pipe B. The wheel S is now turned so as to elevate the sleeve L, whereby the lever K will be elevated. This operation opens the valve F and closes the valve H. W'ater from the inlet E then enters the pipe D, passes through the pipe B, and is discharged from the branch 0 into thetank of the engine. The wheel S is then let goor reversed, whereby the sleeve L returns 7 to its first position, and as the lever K is no longer controlled, the pressure of water entering the inlet E closes the valve, thus shutting off the supply, and owing to, the connection of the stem G with the valve H, the latter is opened, thus permitting the escape of the waste-water remaining in the pipes D B and branch 0. The branch having been started back to its normal position, the weight of the rotating parts on the rollers 1 causes automaticnlly the rapid return or completion of 'motion of the branch, the ascending portions of the cam ruling over the rollers, and the pipe B with the branch descending. It willhe seen that the connection of the rods M and 0, with rotary-rod R, in combination withthevnlveeonneetion M outside of said rotary pipe 13, substantially as end for the purpose set forth.

. seamen 2. The inlet-pipe E and base-pipe l), in com: bination with the supply-valve F intermedi ate otrsaid pipes, and the watenvelve H thelower side oi the base-pipe, said valves being fitted to the stem G, which is common to noth vai.ves,'und projects outside of the pipe E, and. vith the lever K, connected. to said projecting stein G, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. I V 3. The rising and falling rotary pipe B, with surrounding sliding, sleeve L, the branch 0, with rod 1%, an d the supply-valve F and wasteweter valve H, fitted to a eommonstcrn, G, in combination with the outside com'iection M, intermediate of the sleeve L and rod. R, and with the outside lever K, intermediate of the sleeve L and stem G, substantially as and for the purpose set forth,-

ALFRED R. RUBERTS.

Witnesses:

WM. P. BAKER, ALBERT C. lviowBnAr. 

